Canton Halloween event draws hundreds

CANTON - The Foote family wondered if their Halloween costumes might merit free admission to the American Theatre as they walked past the business Saturday afternoon.

Jakob E., 1, was dressed as a movie ticket, while his brother Robert L., 2, was an M&M. Tyler M. was a box of movie popcorn, complete with over 100 real kernels glued by his mother, Trudy, that morning. Leah, 9, was a Starburst box that included nutritional facts on the back.

The kids asked if we could get in for free because we had a movie ticket, Trudy Foote said.

The Footes were among the hundreds who attended Phantoms in the Park in downtown Canton Saturday afternoon. Children and their families bobbed for apples, jumped in leaf piles, colored pumpkins and entered a costume contest. At 1 p.m., the families walked along downtown Cantons streets, meandering their way through the pylons, cones, and orange fencing in the Route 11 construction zone, and trick-or-treated at businesses.

The event has been going strong for well over a decade, according to Sally A. Hill, executive director of the Canton Chamber of Commerce. Saturdays dry weather was a welcome change of pace from the rain in past years, and families didnt seem to mind the sidewalk and road work downtown, she said.

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday, and the threat of rain and wind next week, Saturday provided an opportunity many children wouldnt have otherwise, she said.

This is actually their party, Ms. Hill said. This is Trick-or-Treating to them.

Bethany M. Sheridan, 8, dressed as a witch, competed with her friends Bailey M. Vierick and Brianna J. Perham, 10, in a Canton Village Park mummy race, one of the activities offered Saturday.

The three girls were wrapped in toilet paper as they tried to run through the park dressed as mummies; Miss Vierick was in costume as the Angry Bird video game character, while Ms. Perham was dressed as a war goddess/vampire.

The witch defeated Angry Bird and the war goddess/vampire.

It feels like youre a statue, Ms. Sheridan said as she described the mummy race. It feels like you have one leg.

Miss Perhams mother, Shannon, was glad Canton offered such an event.

Its one of the good points about being in a small town, she said. Its ... being part of a community.

Andre M. LeBlanc, 8, of Rennselaer Falls said his mother gave him two choices for Halloween costumes. She would either make him look like a caterpillar or a Christmas tree.

It wasnt a tough decision; Mr. LeBlancs birthday is two days after Christmas, and he isnt a particularly fond of caterpillars.

I hate caterpillars unless theyre fuzzy, he said.

Johanna LeBlanc made the Christmas tree by dying an old hoop skirt green and adding lights and bulbs; it was a change of pace from the penguin and Pikachu costumes Andre wore in previous years.

She was glad her son had a chance to celebrate Halloween on a Saturday.

More people are available because its the weekend, she said. Its easier for all the parents to be able to participate.

St. Lawrence University students helped set up beforehand, ran some of the activities and contests and cleaned up afterwards. All six of the universitys fraternities and sororities participated, according to Lilli C. Donahue, an SLU senior and community service chair of the universitys Panhellenic Council.

The event provides an opportunity fort SLU students to get off campus and meet community members, she said.

Its one of the opportunities for us all to work together, she said. Everybody makes time to get out for this.

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